FORT WAYNE – Nearby residents called it the ugliest stretch of road in the city. It looked more like an airport tarmac lined with nondescript outbuildings than a business district.

But neighbors and business owners thought North Anthony Boulevard between Crescent Avenue and St. Joe River Drive could be more – much more – and pushed city officials to make changes so it could achieve its potential.

“I was told they used this area as an example of what not to do in urban planning,” said Mo Palmer, who lives nearby and owns Cultured Gardens landscaping firm. “But I just knew it could be so much more.”

It was hard to see how: North Anthony widened to six lanes of traffic, with three lanes in one direction, two in another and a center left-turn lane. There were 24 curb cuts in one block, few if any trees, and no character.

“It was just designed for traffic – as much and as fast as you could do,” Palmer said.

But that changed dramatically in 2009, when city officials spent about $700,000 to remove one lane from the street, install an 8-foot-wide trail, plant trees and install planted medians where the left-turn lane wasn’t needed. Since then, a half-dozen businesses have received facade grants, in which city money helps business owners make improvements to the exterior of their properties, fixing up amenities such as lighting, signage, awnings, parking and fencing.

Today, there are several new businesses, and new ones seem to keep appearing, despite the closure of the Scott’s grocery store that anchored the area. Many feared the closure would hurt the corridor, but it continues to thrive.

“The improvements that have been made to the corridor have definitely helped the area,” said Sandra Wharton, co-owner of Vanilla Bean Unique Cookies and Cupcakes, which opened after the project was complete. “I’d describe it now as the Broadripple of Fort Wayne – it’s more like an artsy, collegey area.”

Palmer said residents didn’t want to change the area’s identity, they wanted to find it and embrace it. That can be easier in classic, older areas like Wells Street, she said.

“But this has funky, funked-up architecture and a big cow (on the Jameson’s Meats sign),” she said. “It’s some weird, eclectic stuff.”

City officials said having neighbors willing to work for what they wanted, and who wanted things that were reasonable, made the project happen.

“The residents in the area really wanted to improve what they considered their neighborhood commercial area. This was a place they wanted to spend their money and time,” said Pam Holocher, the city’s deputy director of planning and policy. “They had a lot of ideas and sweat equity.”

Among the ideas was turning abandoned playground equipment into works of art. The old, painted concrete turtle, helix and dolphin had been pulled out of playgrounds years before and were languishing in a maintenance storage area of Franke Park when Palmer saw them and thought they’d perfectly match the 1970s-era vibe of the buildings on North Anthony. When the trail was built, they were installed along it like public art.

Now, those sculptures are becoming real works of art: The helix and turtle have been removed so they can be sandblasted and painted white, and the helix, which sits in front of Belmont Beverages, will be decorated in Sharpie Art by local artist and Memorial Park Middle School art teacher Amy Clark. Sharpie Art uses permanent markers to decorate objects; the helix will get a grapevines and wine theme, with Clark’s time and materials paid for by Belmont.

“I think it will be perfect for this area because it’s really eye-catching,” Clark said. The turtle is being prepped now but will be decorated at some point in the future.

Businesses have been key to much of what has happened: When officials proposed dramatically reducing the number of driveways, business owners balked at losing direct access.

“It took time to negotiate with businesses – we had to work with them to realize the value in creating a sense of place,” the city’s Holocher said. “But after we spruced up that corridor, they really responded by investing in their buildings.”

Mike Vorndran, the former president of the North Anthony Neighborhood Association and now the group’s treasurer, said the project shows that a relatively small investment can create huge improvements in the quality of life.

“It’s not a crutch, it’s just a little help,” Vorndran said. “The bike path along there has really helped … you can get places without risking your life now. I see a lot of young people over there walking, shopping and catching the bus, and I love it.”

dstockman@jg.net

BRAWLEY — City officials here are looking to the future and revitalization of the downtown area now that the dust of the most recent fire to hit the locale has settled.

While correcting much of the fire-related damages in the area rests on the shoulders of the privately owned and fire-affected businesses, City Manager Rosanna Bayon Moore assures the city is doing what it can to rebuild “the heart of the city.”

Progress reports documenting what steps businesses have taken since the string of fires are presented to City Council members on a weekly basis and the city continues to pressure for cleanup, Moore said.

“When it’s a hazard we’re in the mode of contact, follow-up and addressing,” she said. “We want to maintain cleanup efforts.”

Despite the challenging economic times, Moore said the city is optimistic about the future of the downtown area and will continue to invest in improvements to facilities.

Also, Moore said the city is “very open to combining with the private sector to see what is possible and viable in the downtown area.”

“It’s a challenging chapter in the city’s history to be certain,” Moore said. “We hope we can continue to be an anchor in the downtown along with a few of the other agencies and businesses that are our core presence. As the economic times improve we’re hopeful that people will not forget that the downtown is the core of the city and we’re not ready to abandon it.”

In an effort to renew and bring focus back to the area, the city is looking to bring items and events to downtown that would otherwise be held at different locations.

Recently, the downtown area played host to the “Taking Back Main Street” event and could potentially be the site of other events in the near future, Moore said.

“Every time we have the chance to use downtown as a venue we will,” she said. “We hope we can continue to feature the attractive part of downtown as a place for convening and enjoying being in the city of Brawley.”

Beginning in the fall, downtown will host a series of farmers markets complete with vendors, produce and a beer garden, said Keira Sparks-Jacques, Brawley Chamber of Commerce administrative assistant.

“There will also be entertainment and a kids’ fun zone and this will tentatively be located at the south plaza in downtown Brawley,” Sparks-Jacques said.

The farmers market will hopefully begin in October and will be held on the second Saturday of each month for six months and is a joint project between the chamber and the local Boys and Girls Club, Sparks-Jacques said.

The chamber is also doing what it can to help the area progress and is working with the Brawley Community Foundation to restore parts of downtown.

“We’re working to revitalize the Brawley theater and bring back the feeling that it had in the past,” Sparks-Jacques said. “We’re bringing back some of the people who went there so they can get involved or help or volunteer.”

Mayor Sam Couchman added the city is also hoping to bring certain Cattle Call and other city events to downtown in order to limit the Cattle Call Arena and Wiest Field to equestrian events and baseball games, respectively.

Ultimately, Couchman said the purpose of harnessing focus to downtown was a way to revitalize, recover and progress.

With the recent addition of the Transit Transfer Station to the area, Couchman said he hoped it would create more pedestrian traffic and in turn benefit the businesses there.

“The (transit transfer) station was very beautifully done,” Couchman said. “It has a very nice set up and we’ll maintain to keep it that way so it can be a positive attraction in the downtown area.”

In addition to trying to bring more pedestrian traffic to the area Couchman said the city is also looking into parking to create a better and easier flow of vehicular traffic.

“We want to maximize the amount of parking down there and we’re looking at safe ways to do that,” Couchman said. “We’ve discussed diagonal parking and how that might impact the area.”

Also, the city is looking into lighting for the area and perhaps encouraging businesses to have two entrances.

“With limited funding we will do what we can and do our best to work with the private sector businesses,” he said.

In addition to working with the local businesses, Couchman said the council is also open to hearing ideas from the public regarding beautification, landscaping or parking.

“Historically things are highly resistant to change and I think it’s important to be more open to experimentation,” Couchman said. “We look at downtown and we are encouraging innovative ideas to enhance economic development and too see how we can make it better off. We encourage the community to continue to support the downtown area because we still have viable businesses there.”

Staff Writer Karina Lopez can be reached at 760-337-3439 or klopez@ivpressonline.com

BRAWLEY — City officials here are looking to the future and revitalization of the downtown area now that the dust of the most recent fire to hit the locale has settled.

While correcting much of the fire-related damages in the area rests on the shoulders of the privately owned and fire-affected businesses, City Manager Rosanna Bayon Moore assures the city is doing what it can to rebuild “the heart of the city.”

Progress reports documenting what steps businesses have taken since the string of fires are presented to City Council members on a weekly basis and the city continues to pressure for cleanup, Moore said.

“When it’s a hazard we’re in the mode of contact, follow-up and addressing,” she said. “We want to maintain cleanup efforts.”

Despite the challenging economic times, Moore said the city is optimistic about the future of the downtown area and will continue to invest in improvements to facilities.

Also, Moore said the city is “very open to combining with the private sector to see what is possible and viable in the downtown area.”

“It’s a challenging chapter in the city’s history to be certain,” Moore said. “We hope we can continue to be an anchor in the downtown along with a few of the other agencies and businesses that are our core presence. As the economic times improve we’re hopeful that people will not forget that the downtown is the core of the city and we’re not ready to abandon it.”

In an effort to renew and bring focus back to the area, the city is looking to bring items and events to downtown that would otherwise be held at different locations.

Recently, the downtown area played host to the “Taking Back Main Street” event and could potentially be the site of other events in the near future, Moore said.

“Every time we have the chance to use downtown as a venue we will,” she said. “We hope we can continue to feature the attractive part of downtown as a place for convening and enjoying being in the city of Brawley.”

Beginning in the fall, downtown will host a series of farmers markets complete with vendors, produce and a beer garden, said Keira Sparks-Jacques, Brawley Chamber of Commerce administrative assistant.

“There will also be entertainment and a kids’ fun zone and this will tentatively be located at the south plaza in downtown Brawley,” Sparks-Jacques said.

The farmers market will hopefully begin in October and will be held on the second Saturday of each month for six months and is a joint project between the chamber and the local Boys and Girls Club, Sparks-Jacques said.

The chamber is also doing what it can to help the area progress and is working with the Brawley Community Foundation to restore parts of downtown.

“We’re working to revitalize the Brawley theater and bring back the feeling that it had in the past,” Sparks-Jacques said. “We’re bringing back some of the people who went there so they can get involved or help or volunteer.”

Mayor Sam Couchman added the city is also hoping to bring certain Cattle Call and other city events to downtown in order to limit the Cattle Call Arena and Wiest Field to equestrian events and baseball games, respectively.

Ultimately, Couchman said the purpose of harnessing focus to downtown was a way to revitalize, recover and progress.

With the recent addition of the Transit Transfer Station to the area, Couchman said he hoped it would create more pedestrian traffic and in turn benefit the businesses there.

“The (transit transfer) station was very beautifully done,” Couchman said. “It has a very nice set up and we’ll maintain to keep it that way so it can be a positive attraction in the downtown area.”

In addition to trying to bring more pedestrian traffic to the area Couchman said the city is also looking into parking to create a better and easier flow of vehicular traffic.

“We want to maximize the amount of parking down there and we’re looking at safe ways to do that,” Couchman said. “We’ve discussed diagonal parking and how that might impact the area.”

Also, the city is looking into lighting for the area and perhaps encouraging businesses to have two entrances.

“With limited funding we will do what we can and do our best to work with the private sector businesses,” he said.

In addition to working with the local businesses, Couchman said the council is also open to hearing ideas from the public regarding beautification, landscaping or parking.

“Historically things are highly resistant to change and I think it’s important to be more open to experimentation,” Couchman said. “We look at downtown and we are encouraging innovative ideas to enhance economic development and too see how we can make it better off. We encourage the community to continue to support the downtown area because we still have viable businesses there.”

Staff Writer Karina Lopez can be reached at 760-337-3439 or klopez@ivpressonline.com